A Midwife’s Journey: From the Hells to the Western Pure Land

This is a record of an interview with Huang Manmei, who sought deliverance at the Hsiang Kuang Pure Land Buddhist Centre in Australia. She now resides in the Western Pure Land of Ultimate Bliss. This account reflects upon her life as a midwife and her subsequent experience as a prison guard in the hells. Recorded by the chief writer, Shi Fa, on December 31, 2022.

Huang Manmei speaks:

"Namo Amituofo. I am so incredibly grateful to Practitioner Su. I am truly grateful. We sixty prison guards are so fortunate to have been guided by Practitioner Su to the Western Pure Land of Ultimate Bliss. Right now, we are all here chanting Namo Amituofo and performing prostrations. It is deeply moving. Especially when I see the dignity and the magnificent scenery of the Western Pure Land, I feel it so profoundly in my heart. I truly hope that all beings can return to the Western Pure Land as soon as possible and stop suffering in the cycle of rebirth.

Let me tell you my story.

A Tomboy’s Childhood

My name is Huang Manmei, but everyone loved to call me 'Mei-zai'. They called me that from the time I was a little girl, through my youth, and right into my old age. It was always 'Mei-zai'. My mother gave birth to eleven children. The first ten were all boys, and I was the very last one—the only daughter. Because of this, my entire family doted on me, especially my ten older brothers. Each one of them took such good care of me.

I still remember the first time my eldest brother earned his own salary. He immediately took the money to buy me clothes. He bought me a dress and told me that since I was a girl, I should wear dresses to look pretty. I put the dress on and asked him, 'Do I look pretty?' My brother suddenly went quiet. I burst out laughing and said to him, 'Brother, even though this dress is made for girls, it has to suit the person wearing it. Look at me! I run and jump around every day just like a boy. Wearing this dress makes me look like a boy in disguise. It is just too strange. I am much better off in my shorts.' My brother laughed too. He agreed with me, took the dress back, and gave it to the girl next door.

Growing up playing with my brothers, I naturally picked up their mannerisms and way of speaking. I became quite the tomboy. If you didn't look closely, you would have mistaken me for a little boy. I was actually quite happy being a boy; I had no desire to be a girl. I refused to learn how to act like a 'proper' girl because it felt so awkward and uncomfortable to me.

The Calling of a Midwife

When I was little, I even argued with my mother for a long time because I was a girl and not a boy. I demanded that she give birth to me all over again so I could be a man. I did not want to be a woman. Of course, my mother ignored me. She let me throw my tantrums and be unreasonable. In the end, I had no choice but to accept my gender. I was a woman, after all.

When it came to household chores, I was still expected to do everything a woman was supposed to do. Being a tomboy didn't exempt me from anything. I had to follow my mother everywhere, learning whatever she did. I became quite capable at managing the household, from sewing and mending clothes to cooking and preparing meals.

More importantly, I learned a special skill from my mother: midwifery. My mother was a professional midwife. She delivered all eleven of us herself without any help from other midwives. She handled everything from start to finish. The whole village admired her and said my mother was truly capable. Every time she went to deliver a baby, I would tag along. They didn't mind me watching, and over time, I learned the trade myself.

In a society dominated by men, I had to submit to the culture of male supremacy. Men made the decisions, and women were not allowed to have an opinion. So, when a man took an interest in this 'tomboy', I had no choice but to marry. It was my father's requirement that I be married in this life.

The one thing I can be thankful for is that I married a very kind husband. Many people said that when we were together, I was the man and he was the woman. In that male-dominated society, it was unheard of for a man not to boss his wife around. They usually treated women like servants, but my husband never treated me that way. Instead, he respected me. Because of this, I didn't have to spend my life like a brood sow, constantly giving birth. In the decades we were married, we didn't have a single child of our own, which surprised everyone in the village.

A Life of Compassionate Adoption

Many people asked me, 'Why don't you have children?' Whenever they asked, I would reply, 'After delivering so many babies for others, I naturally lost the desire to have my own.' They didn't understand why I said that. I told them that there were several expectant mothers whom I had started delivering for back when my mother was the midwife. When I took over her work, I continued to deliver their babies. I saw their homes filled with children, litter after litter, none of whom were properly cared for. It was like watching a sow with a whole nest of piglets. I always thought to myself, 'If I had the ability, I would really like to take these children in and care for them.'

Furthermore, many girls who became pregnant out of wedlock would secretly knock on my door, begging me to deliver their babies. If people found out these girls had children without being married, they would never be able to live a normal life again. Seeing them so helpless and with nowhere to turn, I would kindly help them. I would take them to a secluded place and deliver their babies. Many of these girls would tell me they couldn't afford to raise the child and ask what they should do. With the baby in my arms, I couldn't just abandon them. I felt so much pity for these children that I adopted them. So, even though I didn't give birth myself, I already had a house full of children.

Fortunately, my husband was a teacher. He had the ability to teach the children their lessons, so I kept recruiting students for him. We took them in one by one, and they all listened to his lectures. I encouraged my husband to do more than just teach them how to write; I wanted him to teach them moral principles. I hoped to cultivate their character, which was something I valued deeply.

One by one, children were adopted into our home. Before I knew it, we had taken in nearly twenty children. It was still within our financial means, and these eighteen children were raised very well. Not only were their grades excellent, but they were all very kind and knew how to take the initiative to help others.

Gratitude and the Path to Deliverance

These eighteen children knew they were not my biological children, and they were filled with gratitude toward us. I didn't demand that they become high-ranking officials or earn a fortune. I only hoped that each of them would know how to use their own strength to give back to society, just as I had helped them, so they could continue to help others.

These children were very obedient. Actually, I didn't even have to tell them; they already knew how to do it. They had watched my husband and me live our lives that way since they were small—helping people everywhere without asking for anything in return.

These children all grew up to be very successful, and I was so happy for them. They helped people in their own ways. Some donated money to charity every month, some went around doing service for others, and some even adopted children to care for, just as we had done. No matter how they chose to help, as long as they were doing good deeds, it was fine, and I would praise them.

A few of these children asked me if they should get married. I told them that I hadn't wanted to marry, but the social environment forced me into it, and I couldn't resist. However, I was very lucky to have married such a good husband who accompanied me in doing good deeds and never made unreasonable demands of me. That is why I was able to live a good life. I encouraged them to look at other families and see what life was like after marriage. If they liked what they saw, then they could marry; I wouldn't object.

Throughout this life, I was always helping others. My husband and I would just go out and help people whenever we had free time. This kind of life was so joyful.

Living to over seventy, as my life came to an end, I looked back at my journey. I had no regrets and nothing left to cling to. Life is just like that. After my spirit left my body, I entered the hells and served as a prison guard. I was still as enthusiastic as before, but sometimes I didn't know how to help the criminals there. It wasn't until I heard Practitioner Su giving Dharma talks that I understood. I learned that I had to teach them to repent, chant Namo Amituofo, and seek rebirth in the Western Pure Land. I also urged them to listen to Practitioner Su’s Dharma talks. Many of them listened, felt immense repentance in their hearts, and when Practitioner Su’s Dharma Body arrived again, they chanted Namo Amituofo and were guided by the Buddha light to leave.

We sixty prison guards offer our gratitude once again to Namo Amituofo and Practitioner Su.

Namo Amituofo.

Huang Manmei"